Sam Thomas ruled out of Cheltenham

Sam Thomas has been ruled out of next week's Cheltenham Festival after suffering cracked vertebrae in a fall on the gallops at Paul Nicholls' yard on Thursday morning.

The Gold Cup-winning jockey sustained back and neck injuries and was airlifted to Royal United Hospital in Bath following a schooling accident at first lot.

Trainer Tom George, for whom Thomas is stable jockey, this evening reported his injuries to be not as serious as first feared, but did confirm he will not be riding at the Festival.

"I haven't spoken to Sam directly, but I've spoken to his father who is with him and he will not be riding at Cheltenham next week," George said.

"He has suffered a crack to a vertebrae high up in his neck, but it is not as bad as first feared and he is able to walk, talk and move his hands and feet.

"It's obviously disappointing that he will miss Cheltenham, but the news is largely positive and his injuries will heal with time."

The injury is a huge blow to Thomas, whose finest hour to date came when he rode Denman to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in 2008.

His rides at the Festival this year were due to include the Nicholls-trained Tricky Trickster in the Gold Cup and George's Tell Massini, ante-post favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.